SF0124

Failed

Illegal immigration-identify, report, detain and deport.

Establish state offenses for transporting or hiring unauthorized immigrants; require citizenship verification for benefits, driver's licenses, and inmate status determination.

Full legal title

AN ACT relating to immigration; establishing offenses related to the transportation, concealment or hiring of illegal or unauthorized aliens; providing penalties; requiring the verification of citizenship status for public benefits as specified; requiring the attorney general and each county sheriff to negotiate with federal agencies concerning immigration as specified; specifying requirements for communicating information related to immigration status; specifying requirements for the determination of immigration status for inmates; requiring documentation concerning citizenship for the issuance of driver's licenses and identification cards; providing and amending definitions; requiring reports; specifying applicability; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

Government

Sponsor:

Co-sponsors: Representative(s) Banks, Bear, Brown, G, Kelly, Knapp, Locke, McCann, Styvar, Tarver, Senator(s) Hutchings, Kolb, Pearson

View on wyoleg.gov Introduced Text (PDF)Digest (PDF)Fiscal Note (PDF)

What does this bill do?

Establishes state-level immigration enforcement measures including criminal penalties for transporting or harboring unauthorized aliens, requires law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, mandates citizenship verification for public benefits and driver's licenses, and directs state officials to negotiate immigration enforcement agreements with federal agencies.

Creates a felony offense for transporting, moving, or concealing unauthorized aliens in Wyoming with knowledge of their unlawful immigration status, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or fines up to $5,000. (W.S. 6-5-215)
Requires peace officers to ask individuals about immigration status during detentions or arrests and mandates notification to federal immigration authorities if a person is determined to be an unauthorized alien or cannot have their status verified. Prohibits law enforcement agencies from adopting policies that prevent such inquiries. (W.S. 7-2-109)
Establishes criminal penalties for employers who knowingly hire, contract with, or refer unauthorized aliens, with fines ranging from $375 to $3,200 for first offense, $3,200 to $6,500 for second offense, and $4,300 to $16,000 for third or subsequent offenses, with each unauthorized alien hired treated as a separate violation. (W.S. 9-25-102, W.S. 9-25-103)
Requires employers to inquire about potential employees' or contractors' immigration status before commencing employment and mandates reporting of discovered unauthorized aliens to state, local, or federal law enforcement. (W.S. 9-25-102)
Mandates verification of lawful presence in the United States for persons age 14 or older applying for state, local, or federal public benefits through affidavits under penalty of perjury and the systematic alien verification of entitlement program, with specified exemptions for emergency medical treatment, immunizations, communicable disease testing, and emergency disaster relief. (W.S. 9-25-104)
Directs the attorney general to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with federal agencies for immigration law enforcement and requires county sheriffs to negotiate similar agreements with their county commissioners' approval. Prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances or policies that limit communication between local officials and federal immigration authorities.